Paul Manafort targeted by DOJ, FBI over ties to Ukraine, Russia

Coinciding with the abrupt resignation of Donald Trump’s campaign manager, multiple law enforcement officials have confirmed the FBI and Justice Department (DOJ) are conducting an inquiry into the association between groups with ties to former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych and two U.S. lobbying firms led by Paul Manafort and Tony Podesta.

Although specifics of the investigation remain shrouded, it is believed the inquiry revolves around whether Manafort’s firm lobbied on behalf of then-Ukrainian president Yanukovych without disclosing the work or registering as foreign agents as required by U.S. federal law.

The Podesta Group was allegedly hired by Manafort’s firm to conduct similar work on behalf of European Center for a Modern Ukraine, a Brussels, Belgium-based lobbying firm which also is alleged to maintain ties to the ousted Yanukovych.

Mr. Manafort had no comment, but did respond in a statement to a New York Times story outlining allegations Monday:

“I have never received a single ‘off-the-books cash payment’ as falsely ‘reported’ by The New York Times, nor have I ever done work for the governments of Ukraine or Russia.”

In response to the investigation, The Podesta Group issued a statement revealing it has hired Washington, D.C., lawfirm Caplin and Drysdale to conduct an investigation into whether The European Center for a Modern Ukraine misled them over its ties to Yanukovych.